MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. D.PURANDESWARI)
(a): State/UT-wise number of students enrolled at the primary and secondary levels
during the years
2007-08, 2008-09(Provisional) and 2009-10(Provisional) is given at Annex-I and II.
(b) to (d): Gender-wise drop out rate for the Classes I-V and Classes I-X during
2007-08, 2008-09 (Provisional) and 2009-10(Provisional) in the country is given below:
Classes Dropout rate 2007-08 2008-09 (Provisional) 2009-10 (Provisional)
Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total
I-V 25.70 24.41 25.09 26.68 22.90 24.93 30.25 27.25 28.86
I-X 56.55 57.33 56.71 55.82 55.95 55.88 53.38 51.97 52.76
State-wise details are at Annex III & IV. Drop out rates are not maintained separately for rural and
urban areas. The incidence of high drop out rate may be attributed to inadequate school infrastructure
and facilities, adverse pupil teacher ratio, children engaged in household or other kinds of work,
seasonal migration etc.
(e): Government has been making consistent progress to meet the goals of Universal Elementary Education
through implementation of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) Programme. The Right of Children to Free and
Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009, which became operational with effect from 1st April, 2010, provides
that every child in the 6 to 14 age-group shall have a right to free and compulsory education till
completion of elementary education. The SSA Framework of Implementation has been revised to correspond
with the provisions of the RTE Act 2009 and the SSA programme is being implemented in accordance with
the norms and standards of the RTE Act to enhance enrolment and retention of children and to bridge
gender gaps in elementary education. A multi–pronged approach has been adopted for reducing dropout
rates. This includes inter-alia strengthening of school infrastructure and facilities, residential
hostel buildings for children in habitations un-served by regular schools, provisioning for additional
teachers, regular training of teachers, provision for text books and uniforms to children. Mid Day Meal
Scheme is also being implemented with a view to enhance enrolment and retention of children in school.
Further, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan has been launched for universal access to secondary education.
